Collaborative Research, WSC-Category 2: Regional Climate Variability and Patterns of Urban Development - Impacts on the Urban Water Cycle and Nutrient Export

PI # 1：Welty，ClaireProposal编号：1058038机构：马里兰州巴尔的摩县大学PI # 2：Smith，James A.提案编号：1058027机构：普林斯顿大学PI # 3：欧文，Elena G.提案编号：1058059机构：俄亥俄州州立大学PI # 4：Klaiber，H. Allen提案编号：1058064机构：宾夕法尼亚州立大学大学公园PI # 5：Towe，Charles提案编号：1058101机构：马里兰州大学公园PI # 6：Groffman，Peter M.提案编号：1058162机构：生态系统研究所PI # 7：Gold，Arthur提案编号：1058194机构：罗德岛大学PI # 8：Kaushal，Sujay提案编号：1058502机构：马里兰州大学园区知识产权拟议工作的目标是评估城市发展模式和水文循环及其相关的养分循环之间的相互作用，在区域和当地气候变化的背景下。驱动这项研究的范式是，城市化景观的自然和人类组成部分之间的动态相互作用产生惊人的空间异质性和时间变异的水存储和通量的水量和水质的主要决定因素。他们的具体目标是创建一个能够模拟控制城市水可持续性的反馈关系的模型系统，他们提出解决以下研究问题：（1）人类的区位选择，基于水的生态系统服务，以及监管政策如何影响土地供应和发展模式随着时间的推移？(2)城市化地表的成分变化和变异性如何影响当地和区域气候？(3)发展模式（包括工程供水系统）和气候变化如何影响城市地区的水和氮的通量、流动路径和储存？拟议的工作将整合跨学科的水文科学，环境工程，地球化学和经济学的理论和模型。核心要素包括在地块和街区尺度上以及针对不同政策设想情况的城市发展模式和单个土地使用和定位过程的空间建模;在多个尺度上耦合地表水/地下水和地表-大气系统的三维建模（包括考虑工程水系统），其中将发展模式作为投入;以及实地工作和模拟，旨在量化该系统中水和氮的流动路径和通量。他们将使用巴尔的摩生态系统研究LTER（http：beslter.org）作为基于地方的研究平台，以开展拟议的工作。在这样做时，他们将利用一个12年的水文和化学特性数据库;高分辨率土地覆盖、土地使用和社会人口信息;和高密度水文观测系统。更广泛的影响这个项目将有助于20多名本科生，7名博士生，和三名在项目支持的伙伴机构的博士后研究员。此外，预计该项目产生的数据可以用于与BES LTER，其专业知识涵盖环境工程，水文学，地球化学，水生生态学，城市和环境经济学和公共政策的其他研究生的论文研究。新的建模能力将使我们能够扩大为各级学生提供的培训和研究机会。新的仪器将有助于提高LTER的基础设施能力，作为科学界的一种资源。他们的工作包括与参与规划和实施影响土地使用和水资源的方案的当地机构决策者进行频繁的沟通，例如，巴尔的摩市公共工程部、巴尔的摩县环境保护和资源管理部、马里兰州环境部和美国环保署切萨皮克湾项目。建模工具，如建议的是非常需要支持与水资源管理相关的决策。BES LTER与巴尔的摩市和县学校系统合作开展了一项积极而广泛的环境教育计划;来自巴尔的摩地区LTER相关研究项目的数据，如拟议的数据，将用于该LTER支持的计划。

PI # 1: Welty, ClaireProposal Number: 1058038Institution: University of Maryland Baltimore CountyPI # 2: Smith, James A.Proposal Number: 1058027Institution: Princeton University PI # 3: Irwin, Elena G.Proposal Number: 1058059Institution: Ohio State UniversityPI # 4: Klaiber, H. AllenProposal Number: 1058064Institution: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park PI # 5: Towe, CharlesProposal Number: 1058101Institution: University of Maryland College ParkPI # 6: Groffman, Peter M.Proposal Number: 1058162Institution: Institute of Ecosystem StudiesPI # 7: Gold, ArthurProposal Number: 1058194Institution: University of Rhode IslandPI # 8: Kaushal, SujayProposal Number: 1058502Institution: University of Maryland College ParkIntellectual MeritThe goal of the proposed work is to evaluate the interactions between urban development patterns and the hydrologic cycle and its associated nutrient cycles, within the context of regional and local climate variability. The paradigm driving this research is that dynamic interactions between the natural and human components of the urbanizing landscape produce striking spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability in water storage and fluxes that are major determinants of water quantity and quality. Their specific objective is to create a modeling system capable of simulating the feedback relationships that control urban water sustainability.They propose to address the following research questions: (1) How do human locational choices, water-based ecosystem services, and regulatory policies affect the supply of land and pattern of development over time? (2) How do the changing composition and variability of urbanizing surfaces affect local and regional climate? (3) How do patterns of development (including the engineered water system) and climate variability affect fluxes, flow paths and storage of water and nitrogen in urban areas?The proposed work will integrate theories and models across the disciplines of hydrologic science, environmental engineering, biogeochemistry, and economics. Core elements include spatial modeling of urban development patterns and individual land use and location processes at parcel and neighborhood scales and for different policy scenarios; three-dimensional modeling of coupled surface water/groundwater and land surface-atmospheric systems at multiple scales (including consideration of the engineered water system), where development patterns are incorporated as input; and field work and modeling aimed at quantifying flow paths and fluxes of water and nitrogen in this system.They will use the Baltimore Ecosystem Study LTER (http://beslter.org), as a platform for place-based research to carry out the proposed work. In doing so, they will take advantage of a 12-year database of hydrologic and chemical characterization data; high-resolution land-cover, land use, and socio-demographic information; and a high-density hydrologic observing system.Broader ImpactsThis project will contribute to the education and professional development of over 20 undergraduate students, seven PhD students, and three post-doctoral associates at the partner institutions supported by the project. In addition, it is expected that data produced by this project can be used in dissertation research by a number of other graduate students affiliated with the BES LTER, whose expertise spans environmental engineering, hydrology, biogeochemistry, aquatic ecology, urban and environmental economics, and public policy. New modeling capabilities will enable us to broaden the scope of training and research opportunities provided to students at all levels. New instrumentation will contribute to the growth of infrastructure capabilities of the LTER as a resource for the scientific community.Their work involves frequent communications with local agency decision-makers involved with planning and implementing programs affecting land use and water resources, e.g., Baltimore City Department of Public Works, Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management, Maryland Department of the Environment, and the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program. Modeling tools such as the ones proposed are very much needed to support decision-making associated with water resource management. The BES LTER has an active and extensive environmental education program working with Baltimore City and County school systems; data derived from LTER-related research projects in the Baltimore area, such as the one proposed will be used in this LTER-supported program.